By Kebba Jeffang
A Foroyaa messenger, Mr Mass Kah, on Wednesday 27 November,
2013 appeared before the Kanifing Magistrates’ Court charged with sedition before Presiding Magistrate Isatou Janneh. He appeared in court after being held in detention for 13 days at the NIA and various police stations. When
the case was called, the prosecutor identified herself as Sgt. 335 Nying. The magistrate read out the charge (including the particulars of offence) in the crowded courtroom.
The statement of offence is seditious act contrary to section 51(1)(a) of the
Criminal Code Cap 10:01 Vol 3 Revised Laws of The Gambia 2009. She went further and read the particulars of offence in English which was translated into Wollof by the interpreter thus: Mass Kah on or about the 14
th November, 2013 between the hours of 16hrs and 17hrs at Latrikunda
German within Kanifing Municipality and diverse areas, with willful intention
uttered a statement against the
photo of the President of Gambia which one Lamin Camara was pasting on his
vehicle opposite a tailoring workshop, asking: ‘why not you paste the said photo of the President on the sky?’ and thereby committed an offence.
When the magistrate put to Mass Kah whether he said what is on the charge
sheet read by the prosecution, he replied in the affirmative and said “yes I said so.”
As the magistrate was about to make a comment, the prosecutor stood up and said the case file needs to be reviewed and therefore expressed wish to
apply for an adjournment.
The magistrate at this stage adjourned the matter till today 28 November, 2013.